Monthly Archives: November 2017

​​The Big Bash is rolling back for another entertainment packed set of matches. Are you ready Brisbane? We sure are!

Before you hit the stands, hit up the Piney for all your essential pre game bites and brews.

As you might know, we’re blessed with the gift of the gab… The Gabba and being ridiculously close to it, that is.

Our beloved Big Bash deserves a big cocktail to celebrate, so please welcome The Big ASH! With activated charcoal, ratu rum, pineapple, lime juice and agave over crushed ice, you’ll be bowled over in the best way possible.

11 Engagement Party Ideas Everyone Will Love

So you’ve got the ring on your finger and updated your Facebook relationship status accordingly, the only thing left to do to set your engagement off is to throw a great party at an even greater engagement party venue. But if you don’t want to settle for just any old celebration, our team have come up with 11 great engagement party ideas that’ll have you smiling all the way down the aisle.

Engagement Party Idea 1: Make it a masquerade

Theming & Styling

Give your party a dark and mysterious feeling with some mood lighting, candlelit tables and stylish mirrors. For some added style points book a venue with your very own romantic balcony overlooking the city – talk about romantic.

Dress Ups/Attire

When it comes to masquerade balls, style is everything. Grab a great disguise and get ready to hit the dance floor – but warning, even a mask won’t cover up Aunty Rita’s signature dance moves.

Beverage menu ideasSpeaking of fancy, no engagement celebration is complete without a little bubbly. Get in the celebratory mood and toast to the beginning of your new adventure with an endless supply of premium Australian sparkling wine.

EntertainmentLet’s face it, tor an upmarket affair like this, an iPod is just not going to cut it! Go hard or go home with a killer live band – Bonus points if you can convince your Uncle Kevin to whip out an impromptu guitar solo.

Engagement Party Idea 2: The winter wonderland party

Who cares if it’s 35 degrees outside, nothing makes a statement quite like a winter wonderland!

Theming & Styling

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow or at least make it look like it has. Turn up the air con, hire an ice sculpture and transform your function space into a romantic snowy escape – just remember, licking an ice sculpture may seem like a great idea at the time, but some pranks aren’t worth the awkward trip to the emergency room, we’re looking at you Michael.

Dress Ups

You might be the one wearing white on the big day, but an all white engagement party has got some serious style appeal, just avoid the red wine.

Food Menu Ideas

Match your menu to the theme with a warming, seasonal buffet with spiced ham off the bone and roast turkey with cranberry dressing.

Beverage Ideas

Keeping with the all-white theme, why not gab a great selection of local and international white wines and sparkling – your dry cleaner will thank you later.

Entertainment

Just dying to show off all those romantic happy snaps? Pop together a photo gallery set to music and entertain your guests with your cutest moments – and hey, a few embarrassing ones too just for fun.

Engagement Party Idea 3: The Greatest Show on Earth!

Escape the wedding planning circus and become the ringleader of your very own circus themed party instead! Roll up, roll up – but don’t roll down the stairs later.

Styling and ThemeWhile hiring an elephant might be a little out of your budget that doesn’t mean you can’t make your party come alive with the circus feeling. Recreate the big top feeling with lots of reds accents and some fun lighting with lots of glitter to match!

CostumesGive your party a whacky edge with circus inspired dress ups and costumes, like acrobats, jugglers and lion tamers. But be warned – clowns may be funny but drunk clowns are just kind of scary.

Food Menu IdeasNo trip to the circus is complete without your favourite finger food. Give your engagement party a fun edge by hiring your very own cotton candy maker or hot buttered popcorn machine for the day.

While your partner might be really impressed with your epic juggling skills, take the pressure off yourself and hire some real circus professionals.

Engagement Party Idea 4: A very beachy engagement party

Winter wonderland not your thing? Give your engagement party a tropical feel with your very own beach party (minus the sand).

Theme StylingFortunately setting a beachy theme is cinch when you live in tropical Queensland year round. Just grab some beach balls, your best beach brolly and a couple of towels and hey presto, you’re halfway to turning your engagement party into your very own piece of Byron Bay.

CostumesHow do we put this delicately? Hawaiian shirts are A-Okay. Your favourite budgie smugglers are not. We’re looking at you Uncle Les.

Food Menu IdeasNo engagement beach party is complete without a genuine Aussie BBQ! But skip the snags and take it up a notch with rib fillet steaks, marinated prawns and tender lamb skewers.

EntertainmentWhile a traditional game of beach cricket might be out. That doesn’t mean you can’t have some classic beach side fun. Why not challenge your family and friends to a hula competition or some cutthroat limbo? You’d be surprised how limber your Nanna is even after her hip replacement.

Engagement Party Idea 5: The “way we were” party

Go back in time to 2010 when you first met and recreate the good old days with a unique party dedicated to that golden period where everything was still so new.

Theming & Styling

Make your function space truly strand out from the rest with a nod to your first date. Did you go to the movies? Design your invitations to look like movie tickets and create your very silver screen magic with a custom movie poster, “coming to an altar near you”. Just make sure to keep it PG until the oldies leave.

Dress Ups/Attire

It was a time of bandage dresses, asymmetrical hemlines and the pinnacle of Lady Gaga’s wacky outfits – hello, meat dress – it’s time to dig deep into your wardrobe and unearth those cringe worthy clothes you wish you had left into past, because you know deep down you’re just dying to see your Uncle Darryl with a hair bow.

Food menu ideas

Can you remember what you ate on your first date? Find clever ways to incorporate your favourite food into the celebration with a menu that’s all about you. If there’s one way to get to someone’s heart, it’s through their stomach.

Beverage menu ideas

Need a bit of Dutch courage before your walk down the aisle? Why not really make your mark with a custom cocktail? Or add a little extra sparkle – you know other than the ring – with free flowing champagne all night long.

Entertainment

Still have your first ever playlist you made for each other? It’s time to dust of those iPod and get ready to rock with non stop hits from the year you met. From Katy Perry to Jay Z, take a turn down memory lane with a couple of guaranteed floor fillers – just be sure to get a video of your Aunty Linda busting a move to Eminem, you never know when you’re going to need it.

So don’t just settle for any old cocktail and canapé affair, make your Brisbane engagement party really stand out from the crowd with a custom celebration that’s all about you.

Engagement Party Idea 6: Go Glamping

Theming & Styling
Whether you take it inside or out, it’s all about unfinished wood, soft draped curtains and plenty of fur at this party. If you’ve got the space, open tipis piled with comfy cushions will create the perfect space to sit and sip warm mulled wine, while table settings featuring rustic wooden logs, plenty of greenery and mason jars will continue the look.

Dress Ups
No need to be too practical for this camping trip – high heeled leather boots and cute patterned ponchos are definitely allowed! Think Country Road with just a dash of Burning Man, and tassels, tassels everywhere.

Food, Beverages & Catering
Forget canned food and mystery stew – the g in glamping doesn’t just stand for glamorous, it stands for gourmet. Turn the wood-fired BBQ menu up a notch with mini sliders, skewers, and slow cooked meats, all paired with fruity punch. After the main affair, your guests can hit the (rustically decorated, of course) dessert table, or roast marshmallows over a carefully tended fire.

Entertainment
Has all that partying got you and your guests looking like you’ve gone bush? Ensure everyone stays looking their glamorous best with a mani and pedi station, or bring in a stylist for mini makeovers!

Engagement Party Idea 7: Summer Party

Theming & Styling
Think bright, colourful and tropical for this summer shindig! Whether it’s the right season for your engagement party date or not, a summer party is the perfect way to spread a little sunshine, with loads of bright tropical flowers adorning your tables, colourful paper straws and cocktail jugs full of sangria and lemonade, and plenty of confetti to throw on the dance floor.

Dress Ups
No, we’re not going to suggest those hideous Hawaiian shirts Uncle Bevan wears – this summer party has a little more style. Tell the boys to hunt down some vintage Mambo to wear with tailored lined shorts and deck shoes, while the girls can float in wearing tropical sundresses and wide straw hats.

Food, Beverages & Catering
What else would be on the menu but seafood? Pile a table with ice, and stack on the fresh prawns, oysters and fresh salads. For dessert, you could go simple with bright macarons and summer fruits – or get a little extravagant and put on an ice cream sundae bar!

Entertainment
Summer weather is perfect for getting outdoors and playing games on the lawn – even if it’s winter, you’re inside and it’s astroturf. Arrange to have the likes of giant Jenga, Connect 4 and coits awaiting on a grassy area, and watch as your guests suddenly get wildly competitive!

Engagement Party Idea 8: Pink Party

Theming & Styling
The key for this theme is to not go overboard. Yes, you can get pink tablecloths, plates, straws, cups, bunting and more – but sometimes, less is more. Start with plenty of white and add in generous pink touches, with a splash of sparkling gold here and there to ensure your party is more glam, less Barbie dream house circa 1990.

Dress Ups
What else – everyone has to wear pink! Whether it’s a splash of pink or all pink, there’s no doubt you’re going to have some great photos – although we’re not sure that will be a good thing when you’re looking back on the flounced taffeta number your future mother-in-law wore.

Food, Beverage & Catering
Just us promise us one thing – don’t overdo it with the pink food colouring. For savoury, beetroot stained sushi donuts with pickled ginger are stunning to see and oh so trendy, while charcuterie, beetroot hummus and beetroot goats cheese tarts are both delicious and simple to make. For dessert and drinks, it’s all about the pink cupcakes, French martinis and plenty of rosé!

Entertainment
You could go with a dancefloor playlist dedicated to Pink and Pink Floyd – or you could do a throwback to the days when Debbie’s pink taffeta outfit was cool, the 90s, and get a DJ to rock those hits until the early hours!

Engagement Party Idea 9: ‘I DO’ BBQ

Theme & Styling

The ‘I Do BBQ’ is a popular engagement party option for the more relaxed, down to earth couple who like to keep things simple. Fire up the 6 burner and crack a couple of cold ones with your closest mates to celebrate your big news in classic Aussie style.

Dress Ups

For an ‘I do’ BBQ you want to keep things pretty casual but you also don’t want anyone wandering around in stubbies and a singlet at your engagement party. Find a nice balance by encouraging guys to wear tailored shorts and deck shoes. The ladies can rock nice comfy summer dresses and sandals.

Food Beverages & Catering

For your BBQ engagement Party, you will want to opt for the classic options, sausages, steaks, burgers, prawns and salads. As with most BBQ’s you can ask your guests to bring a plate to keep the budget down. To make sure all bases are covered, keep a list of who’s bringing what. For drinks, a couple of slabs of beer and some nice white wine should do the trick. You might want to also invest in champagne for a toast.

Entertainment

No Aussie BBQ is complete without a game of Backyard cricket. An ‘I do BBQ’ is no different. If you don’t have space for a game of cricket you can always crack out the bocci.

Engagement Party Idea 10: A Roaring 20’s Speak Easy

Theme & Styling

If you’ve been dreaming of a Gatsby style speakeasy since you first read the book in high school, an engagement party is a perfect opportunity to make it happen. When it comes to styling just think of yourself as Nick Caraway wondering through one of Gatsby’s Parties for the first time. This will include champagne towers, swanky jazz tunes, and plenty of glitter and gold.

Dress Ups

Speakeasy fashion for women is all about fringed flapper dresses, feathers, stockings and boas. Gentlemens costumes should be dapper. Think vintage style waistcoats, high waisted pants, and a flat cap, fedora or a poke pie hat.

Food, Beverages, Catering

The best way to feed your guests at a 1920’s style speakeasy engagement party is by rotating a variety of hors-d’oeuvre throughout the evening. In The Great Gatsby, some of the hors-d’oeurves mentioned include baked ham which can be made elegant by adding maraschino cherries. Alcohol may have been outlawed in 1920s America, but that wasn’t stopping anyone from drinking it. A proper speakeasy beverage list should include champagne as well as a variety ‘prohibition cocktails’ such as ‘Gin Rickey’ and ‘mint julep’.

Entertainment

If you’re going to host a speakeasy engagement party there is no point in doing it by halves. Add some 1920’s magic to your evening with a performance from a live Jazz band.

Engagement Party Idea 11: A Mexican Fiesta

Theme & Styling

In celebration of your love, invite your amigos to party like there is no manana with a Mexican style fiesta. The décor for an engagement fiesta should include colour, colour and more colour. Think bright reds, yellows, greens and blues. DIY colourful tissue paper flowers are easy and affordable to make and they can really bring the theme to life. Another fun idea is to use cacti instead of flowers for centrepieces.

Dress Up

For a Mexican fiesta, everyone should wear as much colour as possible. The women can wear flowers in their hair, the more exotic the better. The men might like to don a poncho or simply a colourful shirt. There is always the option to be silly with the theme by dressing as something iconic to Mexican culture such as a taco but be careful to avoid offensive stereotypes as this will only make people feel uncomfortable and ruin the mood.

Food, Beverage, Catering

You can’t have a fiesta without a Mexican feast. An easy option for catering is to create a taco and burrito station where guests are given the opportunity to choose their favourite fillings. Another option might be to hire a Mexican food truck to save you the stress and hassle of cooking yourself. For drinks, you might want to consider hiring a margarita machine. if you are on a budget, a couple of cartons of coronas should do the trick.

Entertainment

A great way to entertain your engagement party guests is with a piñata. Get creative by filling the piñata with fun party favours that adults will get a kick out of such as mini tequila bottles. You could also surprise your guests by hiring a mariachi band to perform. This will give your Mexican fiesta the ultimate authentic atmosphere.